The school was founded in 1878, as a member of the Girls' Day School Trust. It moved in 1992 from north Ipswich to Woolverstone Hall, a former boarding school, some four miles south east of the town. There are wide views over the Orwell estuary and the surrounding parkland, covering more than 80 acres. The 18th-century Hall, a Grade I listed mansion, houses the sixth-form centre, libraries and some teaching rooms. Modern buildings accommodate the senior school, DT block, theatre, sports hall and a swimming pool. The junior department occupies a separate block. The school's social spread is wide and it provides a good all-round education with the emphasis on development of individual talents; examination results are excellent. There is a big commitment to music and intensive dramatic activities. A good range of sports and games is provided; there are a number of county players.
Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 665 day girls. Senior department 11-18, 465 girls. Entrance: Main entry ages 3, 4, 7, 11 and 16. Own entrance exam used; for sixth-form entry, good school report and 6 GCSEs (grade B in sixth-form subjects). No special skills or religious requirements. State school entry, 25% senior intake.
Academic, art, drama, music and sport scholarships in senior school, value 10%-25% fees. Also means-tested bursaries. Parents not expected to buy textbooks.
Headmistress: Ms Elaine Purves, in post from 2006. Teaching staff: 41 full time, 16 part time (plus 14 for extras). Annual turnover very small.
GCSE: 66 pupils in Year 11, almost all gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 52 in upper sixth, all passing in 3+ subjects, with an average final point score of 359.
90% of sixth form leavers go on to a degree course (17% after a gap year), 5% to Oxbridge. 14% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 20% in science and engineering, 50% in humanities and social sciences, 15% in vocational subjects eg speech therapy, nursing, psychology. Others typically go on to art foundation courses.
GCSE, AS and A-level. 20 GCSE subjects, 20 AS-level, 18 A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level. 23% took science A-levels; 23% art/humanities; 54% both. Vocational: Work experience compulsory. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered at GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular exchanges. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. 100+ networked computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all with email and internet access. Sixth form provided with laptops.
Music: Over 50% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 10 musical groups including 2 orchestras, 3 choirs, wind band, chamber groups. Choir and orchestra successful at Suffolk Music Festival; annual concert at Snape Maltings. Drama: Drama offered. ESB exams and Trinity Guildhall Arts Awards may be taken. Majority of pupils are involved in school productions and other productions. Recent production of Success (by Nick Drake, part of national scheme to commission new plays for young people). Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 6 A-level. Design, pottery, textiles, also offered.
Sport: Athletics, swimming, tennis, rounders, netball, hockey, football, gym, trampoline, cross country compulsory. Optional: volleyball, badminton, squash, sailing, fencing. BAGA exams may be taken. Elite sportswomen programme offers support to pupils playing at county, regional or national standard. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Sixth Form compete in Wings of Hope scheme. Community service optional. Up to 20 clubs, eg art, chess, Christian Union, computing, craft, creative writing, film, French, forensic, debating, engineering, philosophy, technotronics, Young Investigators.
Uniform: School uniform worn except in sixth form. Houses and prefects: No competitive houses. 2 head girls and 8 senior prefects elected by sixth form. School Council. Religion: Daily assembly involves non-denominational worship. Social: Occasional debates and shared lectures or musical performances with local schools. Annual language trips (Spain, France); visits to eg India, China, First World War battlefields; World Challenge trips (eg Brazil, Mexico); ski trips (to Europe, Canada). Pupils allowed to bring own car to school. Meals self-service. Tuck shop at break. Second-hand uniform sales organised by parents.
Based on self-discipline and respect for others. Cases of pupils failing to produce homework once would be judged on their merits; those caught smoking cannabis on the premises could expect expulsion.
June Brown (actress), Enid Blyton (author).
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